Florida Man Punches Shark To Save His Terrier
30 September 2008, 4:45 PM. By Carlos Posas
How much do you love your pet? Enough to leap into the ocean and fight a shark to save it? Yeah, us neither. But one Florida Keys man does, and he proved it by punching a shark in the face when it tried to eat his wittle bitty doggie, Jake. The rat terrier got into trouble during his daily swim off a pier, when a 5 foot long shark lunged and caught him in its teeth. His owner, carpenter Greg LeNoir, chose the “I’m a durn fool” option and leapt into the ocean on top of the shark.
”I clenched my fists and dove straight in with all my strength, like a battering ram,” LeNoir, 53, said Sunday, reliving the frightening ordeal. “I hit the back of the shark’s neck. It was like hitting concrete.”
We can’t help but be sort of stunned by that choice. Maybe we just saw Jaws too many times but sharks are definitely on our top 10 “do not f*ck with” list, right up there with killer bees and our older sister. LeNoir explains his reacton:
”The shark put almost all of Jake in his mouth, except for his head and three of his legs. We have no children. Jake became our child. When I saw the shark engulf him, I thought, `This can’t be the end.’ ”
Jake enjoying a swim in happier days:
Against all likelihood, both Greg and his dog Jake made it to shore alive after Greg punched the shark (we guess it swam away? Pussy.) The terrier did have to get surgery for the giant bite mark the shark left on him, which extended around his chest, back and legs, but he is reported to be healing well. So that officially makes it OK now to laugh at how he looks in his tiny doggy leg cast and I.V. (but you might still go to hell…)
Greg and his friend/pet/surrogate child, Jake:
Owner saves dog from shark’s jaws [Miami Herald]
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I have no shame in saying that I would punch (or cut) a shark for my cat.
He’s adorable.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=226752132&albumID=777392&imageID=9940420
I’m so petrified of the ocean and its many predatory inhabitants that, had this happened to my dog (or cat) I would’ve just said “Oh snap!” and then shrugged it off. Circle of life baby, circle of life.
Who do I have to punch to get some huachinango?
Simple solution, you just get a pet shark. And then try to keep everyone from punching it in the face.
Simple solution, you just get a pet shark. And then try to keep everyone from punching it in the face.
Wow, I just love the Keys. Lived there on my sailboat for several years and this doesnt surprise me at all. Its just they way people are there. Totally different breed.
Jiff
http://www.privacy-center.ru.tc
I have no shame in saying I’d punch a shark, a whale or a dinosaur over my two cats. I love my pets, and they love me, that is all that matters.
I had a rat terrier once, they are the friendliest and most loving dogs ever. I cannot blame the man on bit for attacking that shark, and I would hope if presented with the same situation I would react the same way.
Sorry, denise. Adorable cat isn’t adorable. Now, maybe with a lil’ BBQ sauce…
I am terrified of sharks, but I would have gone to the depths of the ocean to save my dog, and he is part rat terrier. I hope Jake lives a long and happy life. He has a great owner.
LOL! Well, I gotta say: Except for close family members: My dog would end up being pulled out of a burning building before pretty much anyone else….Or for that matter, from a shark’s choppers :)
Sorry Candygram, but Denises cat is probably a lot more adorable than you or your homoerotic fantasies with BBQ sauce.
I can tell you that if my dog had ever come into the jaws of a shark, I wouldn’t have hesitated to run in after him to try and help.
Sure, it might be a little on the reckless side.
Way to go Greg. I’d like to believe I’d do the same, but maybe it’s just something I believe…. Pets rule!
I haven’t a dog or a cat but if you love someone or something love makes you behave in strange manners sometimes. Its all good that it was done in the name of Love.
We need to wipe out all life in the Oceans to make sure something like this never happens again!
BAMF=Boys Are My Favorite
Mine too!
Bullshit!!!!!!!! I love my dog/s but if that happened to one of my dogs, I’d be in the car off to the pet store. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A brand new puppy is always cuter anyway.
My dog is bigger than that 5 foot shark and would prob kill it and then bring it shore so i could punch it numerous times on dry land
I hate to sound like a shill but, you people practically know nothing about sharks and get what little you “know” from JAWS. You should see Sharkwater, it’s a documentary trying to dispell all the bullshit.
I’d kick a shark in the ass if it tried to make off with my ickle puppy or kitty.
My dog hunt sharks for breakfast.
I’d kick the snot out of any shark trying to eat my dogs.
I’d jump in and fight a shark over a dog way before I’d do it over a human, especially a republican.
Apparently the writer of this article is some bitter poor dude.
So sad you don’t know the extremes a human can go for something that means a lot to them.
There’s nothing wrong trying to save your pet or whatever is it for that matter, from danger.
‘Durn fool’.
Are we sure Chuck Norris didn’t travel at the speed of light, dropkick the shark, and throw a slab of concrete in front of Greg’s “Rocky Balboa” fists?
For all you PETA hippies, no dog or any pet for that matter is worth risking your own life to battle a shark. Animals can be replaced, you can’t.
Anyway, keep the comments coming this is great!
I would definitely pounce on a shark to save my precious dachshund. He is my baby.
Ok seriously. I just wanted to say WTF man? There I was minding my own business, when I saw this TASTY MORSEL hanging out at the Ceiling so I went over to investigate and found out that it was some random non-fish that couldn’t swim! I mean heck I don’t even think it could go BELOW the Ceiling! My friend, John the Hammerhead, even told me that he once had seen such a creature before, but only for a second. So I rubbed against it and it felt WIERD, like its skin had some random spongy corral outer layer. Oh man I bet this is gonna taste HELLA GOOD!
So I came back around, took this monster bite and some RANDOM ASS punk human thing comes from ABOVE the Ceiling and sucker punches me in the back of the head! I was like, Aww Hells no, So I went to get my friends and when I came back the creature and the human thing were gone.
Since I couldn’t prove that anything happened, all of my friends laughed at me and told me I probably ran into a rock like a moron. bastards. I am still hungry. Oh well, some mean ass eel is telling me to get off the computer so I gotta go.
-Jake
This has got to be one of the funniest responses that i have read in a minute!
What a luck dog to be so loved. I’d do the same. Heck, I’d kill a person to save one of my furr babies.
What a dumb commentary, lacking any compassion or even humor. Tool.
Are you guys for real???
I’d punch that shark too, once for biting my dog, twice because denise cat is adorable
Are you all kidding. You all are full of it. Talk to talk but no one except this crazy old man is going to jump in water with e 5 FOOT shark. F that. plus what a dumb type of dog. Rat terrier is exactly what it sounds like, a RAT. No one would jump in water with a 5 foot shark. No way
I love my papilion. I think I might have to die with her.
a 5 foot shark is a damn small shark you realize right? People swim with wild 5 foot sharks all day, even on dirty jobs.
You should see the the shark’s face!
Fuck the shark i would shoot anyone or thing who threatened the life of my dogs
Ha! If I still had a pup, there’s little doubt I would jump in to save it at a split second notice.
And Denise - I’d prob do it for D Rufus (adorable cat)
I would have done the same for my rat terrier or my miniature doberman. They are our children, and could not imagine life with out them. No 5 ft shark will scare me
Ive fought wth 6ft imates while being a corrections officer. Bring it on NIMO!
in response to Pedro Jose Hidalgo Rodriguez XVIII
i dont wanna sound cold and im not a peta fan, but animals are not replaceable as you say, i wouldnt care less if a shark was attacking you, i would probably just tape it and put it in youtube, but i would throw myself against it for a human being or a pet that I care about.
its all about the things you love and care about
I am detecting large quantities of internet tough guy in this thread.
Grrrrrrr!
I would punch that shark right in the hip, hit him so hard his pancreas would shoot out his eye.
Oh, wait, this was about defending your pets? Damn.. I thought we were just talking about my favorite past-time, shark-punching.
..sigh
I needed a story like this today! Thanks. Finally, a break from the end of the world financial crisis.
This is the greatest news story in the history of the known universe.
poor little jake and what a hero of a dad…i liked his comment on the entertainment show “i would have been more afraid of my wife had i come home without jake” that was quite funny
i loved this story…having a rat terrier myself i know how attached u get to these little creatures…wilbur loves to swim also…i can’t keep him out of the water either…what a sweet story…jake is a cutie…i have family in islamorada…i am gonna look jake up next time i am down there…peace out
Well done Greg! I hope I would do the same for my lab.
The shark probably dropped a 30 bomb on chilly…
wow. carried. honestly i wish i had the bravery to cockpunch a shark for a dog.
I mean, really. Who could punch a cockpunch a shark without clickbotting? Hoenstly, please upload the clip you cheating noob.
Listen, its like this…no one can ever say what they would do unless they were faced with the exact same situation.
I have heard so many tough guys run their heads like machines and then wet their bunched up panties when the time came to do the deed. You never know what you will do…
Someone wrote in an earlier comment that we don’t know what we would really do if in this type of situation. It’s true. I had the chance to find out a few years back.
One of our cats had gotten out and was immediately chased by 2 large dogs (an irresponsible neighbour who was always letting their dogs loose). Without even thinking, I grabbed both dogs by their collars, forced them to sit and just held them there with brute force while my neighbour’s kids led the dog walker (not the owner btw, just a very crappy and irresponsible dog walker) to where we were. I gave him hell, I can tell you that!
I didn’t even know that I had brute force in me! I’m not a particularly strong woman, but there it was when I needed it coz no one was going to hurt my baby!
My dad and I killed a 250 lb Thresher Shark. It was about 6 feet long with a long tail that was about the length of the body. If it was attacking my dog, I would definitely fight. Sharks are for the most part bitches. A 15 ft Mako or Whitey is whole different story.
Ive got a 245 lb English Mastiff…. I think their gonna need a bigger shark.
that shark got PWNED!!
Definately a candidate for “Badass of the Month”
that is nice BUT THAT SHARK GOT BEAT DOWN LOL im going to do the same thing for my doggy
Your dog is a piece of shit
Gong Sau Sharkstyle!
He’s way hot…
MAN PUNCHES SHARK TO SAVE PET DOG
I would have done the same thing:
Punch that big shark in the nape
If his razor-edged teeth were to cling
To my girlfriend’s rat terrier, Willy.
I would have dove in the water
If I heard the dog panic-shriek shrilly
And go under and vanish from view.
That is what Greg LeNoir did
When the fish grabbed his Jake like a shoe
Might be grabbed by the jaws of a terrier.
Now Jake is recovering well,
But has nightmares and seems to be warier.
Although Willy will swim in a lake
Where goldfish are all that could bite him,
That dog will at most undertake
A few seconds of dog paddling for
A stick I toss into the water,
Wasting no time to swim back to shore.
Yet he’s tougher than even a shark.
Though he’s small as a canine-shaped rat,
You can tell by his ear-splitting bark.
Jake, who swims fast and so fearless
He retrieves jellyfish, coconuts,
Might have ended up limb-less or earless.
So you never know when giant jaws
Will snatch you and pull you down under,
Whether sporting two feet or four paws.
– M. Elster
Go you! I have the same kind of dog (toy fox terrier) but he looks exactly the same as that dog. I WOULD JUMP IN AND PUNCH THE SHIT OUT OF THE SHARK if I were him too!
Those motherfuckers dont be messin with our babies.
I think Jake is a cool dog.. and yes, I wuold have taken a pop at that shark too. To all the dweeb trolls who delight in bringing the story down, go piss up a rope.
I hear a lot of keyboard warriors here. Nice to talk about popping a shark one in the kisser, but talking about it and doing it are totally different things. Particularily once you see what a shark can do to human flesh. Getting punched by a 6′5 guy weighing 200kg and getting bitten by a 5 foot shark weighing maybe 300kg are totally different things. The shark might bite off your arm.
Sharks aren’t the horrific monsters that Jaws protrays, but goddammit, I’d still sooner punch a full grown lion than a shark. I confess I’d probably have just screamed Fido’s name a few times, flailed an oar at the shark and that would be it. I’m sure as hell not diving in.
So all you internet warriors here, put up or shut up.
I’d let the shark have it’s appetizer…stupid little dogs are only good for throwing and kicking and some occasional spinning around on the kitchen floor…besides that they’re WORTHLESS
I thought I’d never hear someone say Little dogs are worthless LOL it’s about time! I’d take one with some Heinz 51 put that little sucker on the Barbie and lets get grilling!!! If he’s too boney I’d let my mastiff eat him.
All the people that think your dogs are people are obviously f%cktards in a half. they’re not people they’re animals!! Get over it and get Laid! that doesn’t include having your dog lick your balls or your clit douche bags,
Real people!
Well, t when you become a pet owner you have a responsibility to protect them the same way you would a child, ( within limits) My gut reaction like would be the same….try to save your pet.
Those that say, oh well off to the pet store should not have an animal in the first place.
@M. Elster: Loved your poem. I hate, hate, HATE all the stupid Trolls that hang out in comments sections of articles. You’re all so very brave under your blanket of anonymity. Would you say such cruel things to people you know, in person? I’m sure many of you are grade-schoolers. Would you say such things to your parents? If some of you are NOT children, would you say these things to your significant other…if you even HAVE one…or to your boss, or your friends, again IF you have any? Probably not. You wouldn’t want everyone to know what A**H***s you are.
This man was SO brave, and I would certainly hope I had the courage he did if it ever becomes necessary. As others have said, we can’t really know until the situation arises. But, yes, my pets WOULD be worth it, if I could uphold the power of my convictions in such an emergency. Maybe we would all simply react without thinking. I sure hope so.
BTW, Jake ( the shark). I LOL’d at your comments. I know they weren’t meant to be Trollish, only amusing. I got a very nice laugh from them. You should be a comedy writer, (if you aren’t already!)
I would jump in a stab the shark repeatedly and tangle it’s guts in the coral reef so all the odd creatures below can tear it to pieces and surgically devour it. And for all you people who recommend just getting another dog, if you and you dog and have never developed an emotional bond between your pets, then you have no purpose for them unless you are a farmer or other person who sees them as tools.
God damnit this man is a HERO!
We need more of those up in this place.
Would I jump in the water to save my rat terrier from a shark, even a 5 foot long one? Uh, no. What I would do, see, is NOT LET MY TINY DOG SWIM IN THE WATERS AROUND THE KEYS WHICH ARE PRETTY WELL KNOWN TO BE SHARKY, you proto-simian hobo humper. Sweet Jesus.
P.S. Ken, there’s no such thing as a miniature Doberman. I think you’ve been fooled. Miniature Pinschers, yes. Not miniature Dobermans.
I would have done the same if my dog was attacked too.
Carolina,
Many thanks. I’m pleased that you enjoyed my poem.
You said:
“As others have said, we can’t really know until the situation arises. But, yes, my pets WOULD be worth it, if I could uphold the power of my convictions in such an emergency. Maybe we would all simply react without thinking. I sure hope so.”
That’s precisely what my poem was about, as well as the bond that develops between people and their pets.
Note: line 6 (in the poem) should be “If I heard the dog shrieking so shrilly”
All the best,
M. Elster
Again yall are full of shit. No one is going to jump in the water with a shark. its a dog..just go to the spca and get another one. Get a cute one rather than the dumb looking rat dog. its a dog, its easy to say oh yea i would do it, but in reality thats a load of crap. Its a SHARK, the most badass animal in the world.
“I’m so petrified of the ocean and its many predatory inhabitants that, had this happened to my dog (or cat) I would’ve just said “Oh snap!” and then shrugged it off. Circle of life baby, circle of life.” I’m with you on this one Fredo……….you can’t f**** with the circle of life, karma will get you.
P.S. G,
miniature doberman’s and miniature pinschers are the same friggen thing…..hence the name doberman pinshcer….jackass
Thanks for saving Jake Greg.He is the cutest, and luckiest dog.A life is precious, whether it be a dog or …or…a dog! People can piss off.There are trillions of humans and they are breeding like flies as I type, so the sharks should eat a few more people to stop the earth from tilting over.Plus we soon won’t have enough food to feed so many stupid worthless ‘humans’. Better let the shark have them.So all you pricks who said the shark should eat Jake, I bet Jake lives in a better house than you and eats better food.So quit wishing harm on a little dog and git off yur lazy ass and look for a decent job. Tossing burgers is NOT a job!
PS: Hey Greg- if you see a shark about to eat someone, let him! Save the dogs!
I would definately punch a shark to save one of my parrots! Oh, wait, they don’t swim. Nevermind.
i’d punch a shark just for the hell of it
I highly doubt a 5 ft long shark can kill a human. It’s relatively small.
As for the people saying “it’s just a dog”, replace the word “dog” with THE INTERNET. Would you dive in and punch a shark for THE INTERNET? No. You’d probably do much more violent, gruesome, pornographic things to the shark and then put it up on YouTube.
Or at least, I know I’d do it.
well, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch ;)
my doggie got hit by a car last night and almost died. hes ok now, but if i saw a shark goin after him i would fuck that shark up
sharks need to eat too!
If you are an animal lover you will under stand why he punched a shark to save his dog so yes u might think its crazy but hey! i wouldnt want a shark to kill my dog so yea i would punch,bite,and kick dat shark for all i got!!!!
Talk about Spicy! My wife loves dogs, all dogs. All sharks should take note. She is the owner of Juliet Mae Spices, so maybe its something about spicy women.
You know if I had a shark attacking my dog I would do the same thing that he did . To me my animals are my kids as well as my actual kids .